Manchester United committed a mistake by buying Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus last summer, according to Wayne Rooney.
Instead of bringing the Portugal striker back to Old Trafford, the 36-year-old believes the club should have invested in ‘young hungry players.’
Despite the fact that the Real Madrid star has scored three goals in his previous three games and is the club’s leading scorer in all competitions, this is the case.
Last summer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer welcomed Ronaldo back to the Theatre of Dreams, and the Portuguese superstar won the club’s Player of the Month honours in September, October, and March.
And, while he may not be the same player as before, he has nevertheless found the back of the goal on a regular basis.
Despite the fact that the Red Devils were anxious for a proven striker during the summer transfer window, Rooney has conceded that it didn’t work out.
Rooney appeared to criticize Ronaldo’s lack of pushing in an interview with Sky Sports, as well as the club’s choice to re-sign a player in his thirties.
“You’d have to say no at the minute,” he said when asked if it was the appropriate approach.
“I think he’s scored goals, he’s scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season, he obviously scored the hat-trick against Tottenham, but I think if you’re looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best and lift Manchester United over these next two or three years.
“Obviously Cristiano is getting on a bit, he certainly isn’t the player he was when he was in his 20s, and that happens, that’s football.
“He’s a goal threat but the rest of the game they need more, they need young hungry players.”